TikTok parent company ByteDance has reportedly terminated a significant number of its employees in Malaysia, with some claiming that over 700 individuals are affected. According to The Malaysian Reserve, a source close to the local branch revealed that the layoffs were communicated via emails sent by the company. Most of those affected are believed to have worked in content moderation, overseeing not just Southeast Asian content but also regions beyond.
TikTok, like many social media platforms, uses a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and human moderators to ensure that content adheres to its policies. Human moderators play a key role in supervising the AI systems, a process called “supervised learning,” where AI learns to improve accuracy through feedback. Despite this collaborative approach, the company has been cutting human moderators, potentially indicating a shift towards greater reliance on the technology.
Ya betul. Parent company TikTok adalah Byt**dance. Now in Malaysia dia nak Ai dan BPO je yg control or moderate video. One of the company BPO ni company I kerja skrng. Mostly, yg kena layoff ni diaorg di beri option sama ada pampasan atau offer project lain.
— Miera Zulhari 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@ItsMiera) October 10, 2024
Content moderation at ByteDance just got axed by automation. Major layoff tu. Ramai
Selama ni, secara langsung atau tak langsung staff tu semua buat data set annotation sambil sambil flag video TikTok.
Bila dah cukup written SOP, labeling apa semua. AI pun masuk. Jimat overhead
— Nurfaiz Foat 🐟 (@nurfaizfoat) October 10, 2024
Meanwhile, unofficial sources on social media suggest that ByteDance’s move is part of a broader transition to automation, believing that AI-based content moderation is more efficient and cost-effective in the long run. However, these claims remain unverified, as TikTok Malaysia has not issued an official statement regarding the layoffs. Nevertheless, reports of this have reignited concerns over AI replacing human jobs, a trend that continues to grow as more companies adopt advanced technology for various operations.
This isn’t the first time ByteDance has reduced its workforce in Southeast Asia. In June, Bloomberg reported that the company laid off 450 employees at its Indonesian branch after acquiring a local e-commerce firm and merging it with its TikTok operations. The company has also reportedly reshaped its global workforce, with significant layoffs across several departments.
According to CNN’s report back in May this year, TikTok’s global restructuring will likely affect teams involved in user support, content management, and marketing. As part of this restructuring, the company is expected to disband its global user operations team, with the remaining employees redistributed across other teams such as trust and safety, marketing, and product development.
(Source: The Malaysian Reserve)
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